Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary

Dr. Dennis Wilkening spoke about anxiety and what is the answer for it. He walks through Philippians 4:6-7, a well-known passage about anxiety. Dr. Wilkening emphasizes the need for casting anxieties to God, praying, and giving thanks.

Scripture Texts

Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:7; Matthew 6:30-33

Main Points or Ideas

• Prayer - The first part of God's prescription is to pray about everything rather than worry about nothing. Worry is unhelpful (it accomplishes nothing and eighty percent of what we worry about never happens), unreasonable (it makes problems seem bigger than they are), and unhealthy (the body was not made for it). Prayer is the method God gave for casting burdens on him — not merely reciting requests, but bringing specific supplications, earnestly and humbly, to a God who asks for them.
• Thanksgiving - Prayer alone is not the full prescription; Paul adds "with thanksgiving." Wilkening challenges his listeners to remember past answers to prayer they are already living in — and then to trust that the same God who answered before will answer again. Gratitude reframes circumstances. Using the story of Captain Eddie Rickenbacker, who fed seagulls every Friday night until his death in grateful memory of the one that saved his life at sea, Wilkening illustrates what it looks like to never forget God's provision.
• Peace - Prayer plus thanksgiving equals the peace of God that passes all understanding. God does not necessarily promise a change of circumstances, but he promises peace in the midst of them. Wilkening closes with the story of Horatio Spafford — who lost his son, his business holdings, and four daughters, and still penned "It Is Well with My Soul" — and notes that Spafford spent his remaining years in Jerusalem serving orphans. The peace that sustained him is the same peace available to every believer who follows God's prescription.

Conclusion

The answer for anxiety is not medication or self-management but the biblical prescription: cast your cares on God through earnest prayer, give thanks for his past and future faithfulness, and receive the peace that passes understanding — a peace that enables believers to go through trials with their eyes on their Savior rather than the waves.

Dr. Doug Brown continues his series on Christian liberty, focusing on Romans 14:13-23. In part 1, he addressed the judgmental attitude of the weak (conservative party), and in this message, he addresses the abuse of liberty by the strong (progressive party). Paul gives his strongest admonitions to those he agrees with theologically who are not practicing their theology in a loving way.

Scripture Text

Romans 14:13-23

Main Points or Ideas

Choose Fellowship Over Food and Love Over Liberty

The Heart of the Matter: Kingdom Virtues (verses 17-19)

• "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit"
• Paul speaks of the kingdom as a current reality—believers should live out and celebrate the virtues of the kingdom now
• Three virtues: righteousness (who is accepted by God—the justified), joy (not tension from quarreling), and peace (produced by the Spirit)
• Verse 19 should be read before every church business meeting: "Let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding"
• Because our citizenship is in heaven, we need to reflect kingdom virtues in the church today

Four Reasons Not to Abuse Liberty

Reason 1: You Could Hurt Your Brother (verses 13-15)

• "Never put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother" (v. 13)
• "If your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love...do you not destroy the one for whom Christ died?" (v. 15)
• Paul uses strong language—you could be destroying your brother, leading them to sin or even abandoning the church
• Illustration: Missions trips where sensitive consciences could be violated by forcing participation in music styles that feel like sin to them
• Never exercise liberty at the expense of your fellow believer

Reason 2: You Are Not Walking in Love (verse 15)

• Paul agrees with the party of the strong theologically (he identifies with them in 15:1), but they're focused on liberty at the expense of Christian love
• Verse 14: "Nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean"—the strong only embrace the first half and ignore the second
• Christian liberty is not self-serving or selfish; it's meant to be a loving expression of truth
• We should practice the truth in love (Ephesians 4), fulfilling the law of love
• Be willing to drop liberty at a moment's notice if it's the most loving thing to do for a fellow believer
• Illustration: A national conference where both sides failed to show Christian love—without love, even having the truth becomes detrimental

Reason 3: It Smears the Concept of Liberty (verse 16)

• "Do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil"
• The "good" is the liberty we have in Christ and freedom from the law
• When liberty is abused or misused, it is spoken of as evil and skews the very character of God
• Liberty should be celebrated, but not at the expense of others

Reason 4: You Could Destroy the Church (verse 20)

• "Do not for the sake of food destroy the work of God"
• Abusing liberty could destroy an individual (v. 15), but also could destroy the Church of God
• Examples of churches splitting over silverware types or warming ovens show the foolishness of destroying churches over liberty issues
• Instead of exercising liberty publicly to embarrass or pressure the weak, forfeit your rights to accommodate your weaker brother

Paul's Solution for the Strong

• At times, forfeit your own rights
• Accommodate your weaker brother—don't bring wine and meat to church fellowship to eat in front of them and mock them
• Don't exercise liberty publicly to embarrass or pressure the weak

Conclusion

Seminary provides much truth and information, but students should never wield truth in a way that hurts people. Always use it to create and cultivate love. Christian liberty is a wonderful tool, but it can also be abused. Use it in a way that honors God, glorifies Him, and promotes the gospel.

Doug Brown introduces a three-part series on Christian liberty, focusing on Romans 14-15 (Christian liberty at Rome) compared to his previous series on 1 Corinthians 8-10 (Christian liberty at Corinth). The central concern is that Christian liberty often leads to church divisions rather than unity, when it should bring the church together.

Scripture Text

Romans 14:1-12

Main Points or Ideas

Background: Adiaphora and the Roman Church

• Adiaphora (Greek) refers to things that don't matter morally or theologically—gray areas where Scripture doesn't directly address an issue
• Diaphora (which appears in the New Testament) refers to things that are excellent or do matter to God
• The problem: people often make minor issues (the minors) into major issues (the majors), causing church divisions over things like silverware, warming ovens, or organ brands
• Main idea: God wants us to use our Christian liberty for God's glory and others' good for the unity of the church

The Historical Situation at Rome

• Rome had the second-largest Jewish population in the Roman Empire outside Jerusalem (possibly 60,000 Jews)
• The church started primarily Jewish, but in AD 49, Emperor Claudius evicted all Jews from Rome (including Aquila and Priscilla)
• When Jews returned five years later (AD 54), the power structure had shifted—the church now had a Gentile majority
• This created friction: Jews wanted to observe Mosaic laws (kosher, Sabbath) while Gentiles exercised their freedom from these requirements

The Two Parties: The Weak and The Strong (Romans 14:1-3; 15:1)

• The weak (primarily Jewish believers): the more conservative party who abstained from eating meat (couldn't ensure it was kosher), observed Jewish calendar days (Sabbath, holidays), and abstained from wine
• The strong (primarily Gentile believers): the more liberal/progressive party who exercised their freedom to eat anything, did not observe special days, and drank wine
• The weak's attitude: judgmentalism toward the strong
• The strong's attitude: contempt or disdain toward the weak
• Key issue: table fellowship—what people brought to church meals became divisive

Paul's Foundation: Welcome One Another (Romans 14:3; 15:7)

• "Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him" (14:3)
• "Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God" (15:7)
• Logic: If God has welcomed both Jewish and Gentile believers, we must welcome each other
• Welcome (lambano) means to extend a welcome, to receive into one's home or circle of acquaintances—not just forgiveness without fellowship

Two Arguments Against Judging (Romans 14:4-12)

Argument 1: We Are All Christ's Servants (verses 4-9)

• "Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another?" (v. 4)
• Both Jews and Gentiles who believe the gospel are under Christ's authority as His slaves
• Each person is accountable to their own Master (Christ), not to other believers
• The key is having the right motivation to please our Master and keeping our eyes on our own lane

Argument 2: We Will All Stand Before Christ's Judgment Seat (verses 10-12)

• "Why do you pass judgment on your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God" (v. 10)
• Each believer will give an account directly to Christ, not to other believers
• The issue isn't whether people observe the law or exercise liberty—it's how they treat one another in the church
• At the root of both judgmentalism and disdain is pride that separates and divides churches

Conclusion

The real question at the judgment seat of Christ won't be about brands of organs, types of silverware, or observance of particular days. What will matter is how we treated each other in the church and whether we used our Christian liberty to honor God and build unity.

Brian Trainer walked through the story of Ruth from chapter two, showing how God works in the life of one who trusts Him. He observes God’s preservation and providence in the life of Ruth.

Scripture Text

Ruth 2:1-22

Main Points or Ideas

• God's sovereignty and your initiative are not in tension - When Ruth didn't know what to do, she took the next responsible step in front of her — she went to glean. Trainer argues that "waiting on the Lord" is not passive inactivity but active service, like a waiter who takes orders and serves willingly. God's door of blessing swings on the hinges of personal initiative. When we ask God when he is going to do something, his answer is often, "When are you?" And when we do take the next step, we should expect risk, trial, and hardship — God's goal is not our happiness but our Christlikeness.
• God's sovereignty is always in accord with his grace - By providence, Ruth chanced upon Boaz's field. She faced harassment and opposition, but she persisted — and in a matter of hours went from an illegal alien gleaning grain to a favored worker with full benefits. She didn't know that morning that she would become the great-grandmother of David and an ancestor of Jesus Christ. God's grace sometimes comes wrapped in "no" — ten years of barrenness positioned Ruth for the very story that placed her in the messianic line.
• God's sovereignty is always at work during times of silence - When nothing seems to be happening, something is happening. God is as actively involved in the quiet, grinding days as in the dramatic ones. The answer to "When is God going to do something?" is simply: he is. He is doing something right now, and we can trust him for it.

Conclusion

Ruth got up that morning not knowing what the day held. She took the next step, faced real danger and hardship, and found that God's grace met her along the way — ultimately placing her in the lineage of Christ. Mr. Trainer calls students to take their next step of obedience and trust that the same God is at work in their lives too. God’s sovereignty is always at work during times of silence. When nothing is happening, something is happening.

Dr. Jim Tillotson spoke about a Christian’s response to salvation. He observes Titus 3:8 and how Paul urges believers to be careful to do good works. Dr. Tillotson looks at how good works are a reflection of salvation. He asks the students if they are givers or if they are takers of good works. He also encourages them to observe Galatians 6:10 in not growing weary of doing good.

Scripture Texts

Titus 3:4-8; Galatians 6:10

Main Points or Ideas

• Believe the Gospel - Titus 3:8 calls these saving truths a "faithful saying" — not wishful thinking, but certainty. Paul tells Titus to affirm them constantly. If you truly believe that God is kind, merciful, and has justified you by grace, it will change how you live. Faith that saves is never alone; those who believe should be careful — intentionally and persistently — to maintain good works.
• Do Good Works - The book of Titus repeats this theme throughout: Christians are to be zealous for good works, ready for every good work, maintaining good works. Good deeds are not how we are saved, but they are the natural overflow of salvation. Dr. Tillotson challenges students practically — picking up others' trash, serving at church rather than simply attending, helping those with injuries, thanking those who serve them — and warns against doing fun things at others' expense.
• Good Deeds Are Profitable to All - Verse eight concludes that these things are good and profitable to men. A life of good works opens doors to the gospel. When people who doubt God's existence see Christians serving sacrificially in their time of need, they are willing to listen. The world is not convinced God is real, but a life of genuine good deeds becomes a witness.

Conclusion

Dr. Tillotson closes by urging students not to be spiritual Dead Seas — only taking in — but to let what they receive pour out in good deeds toward others. Because of all God has done, the response of a genuine believer should be a lifetime, not just occasional moments, of loving others by serving them.

Pastor Joe Fant spoke to the students about the greatest commandment from Mark 12. He starts off with prefacing that the common Christian sees that this command is to love God and love others. He does not deny this truth, but urges the students to look further at the beginning of the command. Pastor Fant recalls Deuteronomy 6 where this commandment originally takes place. He helps them understand that the first aspect of this commandment is to listen with a call to respond to the command, “Hear, O Israel, our God the Lord is one.”

Scripture Text

Mark 12:28-34; Deuteronomy 6:4-5; James 1:19-25

Main Points or Ideas

• The Call to Hear (Shema) - The Hebrew word shema means far more than passive listening — it means to hear, respond, and obey. Just as looking in a mirror and walking away unchanged is foolish, receiving God's Word without acting on it is not truly hearing at all. Students are not at Bible college merely to accumulate information, but to be changed and to give out what they take in.
• The Supremacy of God: The Lord Is One - The heart of Jesus's answer is not the command to love, but the prior truth that grounds it: the Lord our God is one. Fant illustrates this with three pictures. First, God is not merely the "biggest section" on a divided plate — he is the whole bowl, stirred into every part of life. Second, God is the hub of the wheel, and every relationship, vocation, and hobby is a spoke that must flow from him. Third, using the story of his own accidental film appearance, Fant illustrates that the Lord being "one" means life is not about us — we are background characters, and God is the main character of the story.

Conclusion

The most freeing thing a believer can embrace is that life is not about building a personal legacy — it is about lifting up Jesus. If students can truly grasp that God is the center and the main character of all things, everything else in life will fall into place.

Pastor Joe Fant spoke to the students about God’s daily provision of grace and what it looks like and means for believers. He shared that this daily bread is gifted and not coerced. Pastor Fant also stressed that this grace is given every day with no skips or breaks. He shared a quote his church had adapted since he shared this sermon last year: “Today’s grace today. Tomorrow’s grace tomorrow.”

Scripture Texts

Matthew 6:7-14; Luke 11:5-13; Matthew 6:25-34

Main Points or Ideas

1. A Gifted Provision - The word "give" in verse eleven reveals that God's provision is not coerced, conditional, or earned. A loving father delights in giving good gifts to his children, and God even more so. We do not need to bargain with God or earn his favor; his grace is freely and unconditionally bestowed.
2. A Daily Provision - "This day" points to the daily, moment-by-moment nature of God's grace. Just as Israel gathered manna only for the day — with no storing up — believers are called to trust God one day at a time. Today's grace is sufficient for today's trials; tomorrow's grace will be given for tomorrow's trials. Trying to stockpile grace for future problems only leads to worry, anxiety, and spiritual deterioration.
3. A Necessary Provision - "Daily bread" represents man's most foundational need. Jesus is not promising everything we want, but God's provision of what we truly need. As David wrote in Psalm 37:25, the righteous are never forsaken. This dependence does not excuse laziness — just as Israel had to go out and gather the manna, believers are responsible to be industrious while trusting God to provide.

Conclusion

When believers truly live in daily dependence on God's provision, the result is more consistent prayer, deeper gratitude, loosened grip on the things of this world, and growing contentment. The call is simple: ask God for today's grace today, and trust him for tomorrow's grace tomorrow.

Dr. Dean Taylor spoke to the students about having a complete view of who Jesus is. He examines the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24. He dissects the disciples’ limited view of the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection and their reluctance to claim these truths. Dr. Taylor then shows how Jesus graciously shows the disciples the truth in the same way the Lord works with people today to see the truth of His word.

Scripture Texts

Luke 24:13-49; Ephesians 1:9; Colossians 1:9-10

Main Points or Ideas

• An incomplete picture of Jesus includes important elements, but not all the essentials - The two disciples knew Jesus was a prophet, that he had been crucified, and that the tomb was reportedly empty — but they had not yet grasped his resurrection and glory. Their incomplete view left them sad and disappointed, having hoped Jesus would deliver Israel from Rome. Anyone who expects God to simply make life easier likely shares their problem.
• An incomplete picture of Jesus may come from a lack of knowledge, but it is likely a deeper problem - Jesus called the disciples "foolish" (not thinking clearly) and "slow of heart to believe" — pointing to both a failure to actively engage the mind with Scripture and a reluctance to fully commit to what they knew. The complete truth they needed to embrace was the necessity of Christ's suffering and his entry into glory, including resurrection, ascension, and return.
• It is only by the gracious involvement of God that we can form a complete picture of Jesus - Throughout the encounter, Jesus is the active agent: he drew near, asked questions, absorbed their ignorance graciously, opened the Scriptures, and ultimately opened their eyes (a passive verb — they did not initiate it). This pattern, echoed in Ephesians 1 and Colossians 1, shows that knowing Jesus requires God's ongoing, gracious work in our minds and hearts.
• The effect of a complete picture of Jesus - Dr. Taylor identifies seven results for those who grow in their understanding of Christ: a foundation for faith, purpose for study, confidence in witnessing, warmth in devotion, focus in ministry, motivation for perseverance, and power for mission through the Holy Spirit.

Conclusion

The Emmaus disciples went from slow, misdirected hearts to burning hearts and urgent witnesses — and the same transformation is available to students today as they allow God to open their eyes to a complete view of Jesus through Scripture, study, and the work of the Holy Spirit.

A complete picture of Jesus gives certainty, camaraderie, and ministry. It also gives foundation, purpose, confidence, warmth, focus, motivation, and power to several aspects of the spiritual walk.

Dr. Will Senn charges the students to consider the commands of Ephesians 5:18. He addresses the question of the Christian and alcohol by presenting three positions: the immoral excess of "Bacchus," the moderate drinking of "Calvin Cool," and the abstaining conviction of "Lemonade Lucy" — a nickname coined for First Lady Lucy Hayes, who refused to serve alcohol in the White House. Drawing from his own background as a former heavy drinker and bartender, and from personal losses tied to alcohol, Dr. Senn makes a passionate case for abstinence.

Scripture Text

Ephesians 5:18

Main Points or Ideas

• Two Commands in the Text - Ephesians 5:18 contains a command to stop being drunk with wine (a present active imperative, meaning "stop doing this continually") and an equally important command to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Most people focus on the first; Dr. Senn argues that neglecting the second is its own form of disobedience.
• Three Positions on Alcohol - There are three types of people: the Bacchus follower who lives with no moral restraint; Calvin Cool, who believes moderate drinking is his right and privilege; and Lemonade Lucy, who chooses to abstain. Dr. Senn shares that his own years of following "Bacchus" — and the deaths and devastation he witnessed — shaped his personal conviction as a committed Lemonade Lucy.
• Appeals to Calvin Cool - For those who hold a moderate drinking position, Dr. Senn offers several cautions: don't cause a brother to stumble (Romans 14:21); spiritual leaders in both Testaments were forbidden to drink while serving; you cannot know who is vulnerable to addiction; and the cultural and chemical realities of alcohol today are vastly different from the ancient world.
• The Appeal of Christ - Jesus refused wine mixed with painkiller at the cross, choosing to experience the full weight of his suffering with a clear mind. He also said he would not drink again until the kingdom. Dr. Senn commends the example of Christ as the highest motivation to abstain: understanding the sacrifice of Jesus enables believers to say no to things and wait for things.

Conclusion

Dr. Senn concludes that the Lemonade Lucy position is the safest, wisest, and most loving choice, and he challenges students to study the 200-plus passages on the topic for themselves, allowing the Word and Spirit to form their convictions.

Mark Davis challenges the students to consider what they are devoted to or most excited about. He examines the early church right after Pentecost and what they devoted themselves to in light of the good news of Jesus Christ. Mark also gives a firm exhortation to stay persistent in the truth instead of feelings, to be in firm fellowship with other believers, to eat together and invest in one another, and to pray for one another and for the souls that do not know God.

Scripture Text

Acts 2:41-42

Main Points or Ideas

• Truth - The early church devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching because truth is foundational. In a culture where 74% of adults trust feelings over facts to determine moral truth, students must be rooted in the Word of God as the primary source of truth, not to accumulate facts, but to know the God of the Bible and live out that truth before a watching world.
• Fellowship - The early church shared all things in common, doing life together at a deep level. True fellowship means being known for who you really are — not just sharing surface-level interests, but being accountable to one another and encouraging each other toward Christlikeness. Doing life alone leads to failure.
• Breaking of Bread - Davis understands this as the sharing of ordinary meals together, highlighting that eating together was an expression of Christian fellowship in the early church. Rather than retreating to phones during meals, students should use mealtimes as opportunities to invest in relationships and do life with others on campus.
• Prayer - The early church was devoted to prayer as a regular, intentional practice. Davis challenges students to examine what role prayer plays in their own lives — not just praying about others, but humbly seeking God's work in their own hearts.

Conclusion

Mark Davis closes with the story of Olympic shooter Matt Emmons, who fired a perfect shot at the wrong target, as a warning: students can excel academically, athletically, or spiritually in outward ways and still miss the transformation of heart that comes from being devoted to what God actually calls us to. Review your life, make adjustments, and intentionally build community around truth, fellowship, shared meals, and prayer.